Is my bearded dragon okay?

[Dahntai]

I have had my bearded dragon for a month and a half. I have bought it from Petsmart. She is pooping once a day. She is eating crickets whenever it is time for her to eat(4 times a week with 2 days of calcium and the other 2 days with vitamins).

I am just wondering if she is okay. For maybe 30-45-hour(some days) throughout the day. She is bright and active. For the rest of the day she is very dark and very lazy. The pattern on her stomach is really dark too. And when I touch her she is very cold. The basking spot is about 110(dial thermometer came with starter kit). I am just looking for help. I am starting to worry. Any help is awesome.

Thanks.

 

[destiny1998]

Hi. I hate to tell you, but those " kit" are garbage. You need a better thermometer. A temp gun or a digital with a wire probe. If it came with a coil uvb that can affect their appetite, eyes and cause lethargy. How big is the enclosure? How old is she?

 

[AustinnKaine]

Hello! Some pictures of your beardie and his/her setup would be very beneficial in determining why your beardie is lethargic.

 

[Dahntai]

Okay here are the pictures
The setup

(She was just sleeping. It was the time when I turn the lights on. Thats why shes like that.)

My bearded dragon

My UVB,UVA Bulb

And I had have her for a month and a half. I do not know how old she was when I got here.

To me it kinda seems like she might be cold. When I put her under the basking spot she get lighter and then more active.

 

[Motherdragon]

I think you need a basking bulb in addition to what you have, which looks to me like a plain UVB bulb.

The UVB bulb gives the correct light buts a basking bulb that gives off heat.

 

[Dahntai]

I do have a basking buld
Here a pic of which one I have

And I have a Infared Basking Spot Lamp for the Nighttime for she doesn't get cold.

 

[Motherdragon]

You shouldn't have any form of light on at night as it can cause sleep deprivation - beardies need darkness to sleep. It's my understanding that unless the house gets colder than 65 degrees night time heat is not needed.

 

[kingofnobbys]

Impossible to tell you how old your beardie from a photo without as some information about how much it weighs.

If it's a juvenile (you've not stated it was a full grown adult)

She is eating crickets whenever it is time for her to eat(4 times a week ....)

.... your feeding schedule IS COMPLETELY INADEQUATE.

Hatchlings require a minimum of three live insect meals per day (as many insects as they will eat each time). Offer greens and grated vegs each day.
Juveniles (still growing) require two live insect meals per day. Offer greens and grated/chopped vegs each day.
Adults ....IMO one meal of insects + greens and vegs each day.

NO LIGHT AT NIGHT. If it gets colder than 21oC o/night either a heatpad (under the tank) or a heatslab like I describe in DIYS in the tank under the hide, or a ceramic heat emitter on a thermostat is helpful. The beardie will appreciate a nice warm bed at night so long as it can thermoregulate overnight still.

The compact UVB is fine for providing UVA and UVB , make sure the beardie can get close enough (under 8") while basking. I use 26W UVB200s for my beardies mounted under the top of the enclosures in NanoHoods.

A basking spot at 40oC is desireable for a beardie to enable it to digest it's food properly. Philips par38 incandescent spots which are colourless are an excellent choice for a basking light, as are MVBs such Arcadia D3 UV BASKING Self ballasted mercury vapour lamps. Daytime warm zone about 30oC.

Day : Night schedule - a timer to automatically turn the UVB and basking lights on and off , I strongly suggest 14-15 hrs LIGHTS ON per day.

Water in the tank ==> NOT NECESSARY for bearded dragons , they should get all the hydration they need from the live insects , greens and veg each day.

 

[Dahntai]

Okay thank you for your replies. I will start doing what all of you guys have said. Thank you again.

 

[destiny1998]

Hi. Those coli/compact uvb lights don't put off the proper amount of uvb. They also cause appetite, lethargy and eye problems. I'd replace it with the reptisun 10.0 Tube. A 24 inch would work. That way the uvb is spread more evenly.

 

[destiny1998]

I forgot to say you also need a good thermometer. Either a temp gun or digital with a wire probe. It's important to have the proper temps for digestion. You need to take the temps on the basking spot. It should be around 105 for younger ones. The basking light you have is fine.

 

[Dahntai]

I have an extra bulb thing. Do you think I can put another uvb light on the other side?

 

[destiny1998]

The problem with those compact is they give off strong uvb then fade fast. Where as the tube lights last for 6 months if you use a t8 or you can use a t5 which you can put on top of the screen since it's stronger then the t8. Like I said to those compact bulbs do cause problems and from the pictures it looks like your beardie is not liking it so much. Thats probably why it looks like hes trying to hide in the tank picture. Also the basking spot might be too cold or hot, but in order to know that for sure you need a decent thermometer.

 

[Drache613]

Moved by Moderator from General to Health

 

[Dahntai]

Everyone that replied to my post, Thank You.
Ever since I got a new UVB light(ReptiSun 10.0 18in.) She has been bright in color and active. I would just like to say that everyone is good right now and thank you.